Did you know Aotearoa New Zealand has an extraordinary variety of native reptiles? We share this country with tuatara, sea snakes, sea kraits, marine turtles and a whopping 126 species of lizards. More reptiles are still being discovered, too!
In collaboration with the Otago Regional Council, University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, Southern Lakes Sanctuary, Orokonui Ecosanctuary – Te Korowai o Mihiwaka, and Southern Scales, the Otago Museum is going wild for these radical reptiles with a whole day of family fun.
There will be expert talks, advice on backyard lizard conservation, reptiles to spot in the galleries, crafts, face painting, storytelling, and a free screening of Rango.
Come on down and celebrate our native reptiles, many of which you won't find anywhere else in the world!
Schedule
10am – 3.30pm:
- Make your own reptile mask – Atrium Level 1
- Gallery Quest: Reptile round-up – Galleries
- Backyard lizard conservation with Orokonui Ecosanctuary – Atrium Level 1
- 10am–12.30pm: Face painting – Atrium Level 1
- 11am: Rango ccreening – Barclay Theatre
- 10.30am and 1pm: Reptile story time with Tahu Mackenzie – Atrium Level 1
- 1.30–3.30pm: Expert talks and panel discussion – Barclay Theatre
Venue: Tūhura Otago Museum, 419 Great King Street, Dunedin
For more information: https://otagomuseum.nz/whats-on/do/programme-and-events/event/tfk-lizard-like
Related content
For more, check out the Hub’s article Native skinks and geckos and Tuatara. Ngārara – te aitanga a Punga provides a short introduction to traditional perspectives of whakapapa among the progeny of Punga.
Try out these activities:
- Create a lizard-friendly habitat –this provides students with ideas on how to attract skinks and geckos to the school grounds.
- Observation: learning to see –looks at the role of observation in science and gives students the opportunity to boost their observation skills.
- Similarities and differences: skinks and geckos –uses a Venn diagram (online or papa) to illustrate key characteristics and observations.
